A Pocahontas man was taken to St. Louis University Hospital following a two vehicle accident on Rt. 140 near Pokey Road Wednesday afternoon.

An ARCH helicopter lands at the accident scene on Rt. 140 Wednesday

According to Bond County Sheriff’s Deputies, 54 year old Terry E. Huber, of Pocahontas, pulled onto Rt. 140, off of Pokey Road, into the path of a vehicle driven by 82 year old Joseph E. Holzinger, of Highland. Huber was transported from the scene via ARCH helicopter. Holzinger was taken by ambulance to St. Joseph’s in Breese.

Photo courtesy of the Greenville Fire Protection District

CITY COUNCIL SEES POSSIBLE PLANS FOR DOWNTOWN PARK AREA

At their recent meeting, the Greenville City Council saw two proposals from PGAV Planners on what a park could look like in what is now the parking lot south of First Bank. While nothing has been decided about the future of that space, the council could decide to transform it from parking to a venue suitable for festivals and live music.

Artist renderings of proposed downtown park project

The main stumbling block in the process is the price tag. The two proposals presented each had a price tag of around one million dollars. The council will likely discuss the topic further and no decision was made.

Graphics courtesy of the City of Greenville

BOND COUNTY BOARD COVERS VARIETY OF TOPICS

In their meeting this week, the Bond County Board approved a variety of county aid projects for culvert replacements on county roads, ranging from $2,600 to $7,600.

The board appointed Kim Houchlei to the Shoal Creek Fire Protection District Board for a three year term, beginning May 1.

Permission was granted to the Greenville Women’s Club to place a banner on the courthouse lawn, celebrating the club’s 40th anniversary this year. The board also gave permission to the Greenville Chamber of Commerce to host a BBQ fundraiser on the courthouse lawn to raise funds to replace the gazebo on the square. The date for the fundraiser is to be determined.

The board approved a resolution, requesting $82,000 in federal and state money to acquire two vans for Bond County Transit.

And following discussion, the board tabled the issue of salary for the Bond County Sheriff, Clerk, and Treasurer for the 2014-2018 term. All members agreed they wanted to provide a raise for those office holders -- the question is how much, and where will the extra money come from. The board will take action in their next meeting on May 6th.

MULBERRY GROVE FFA PRESIDENT RECEIVES STATE PROFICIENCY AWARD

Mulberry Grove’s FFA president, Brett Shewe, recently received a first place award in state competition.

“On Saturday, April 5, Brett Schewe was awarded a state proficiency award in diversified ag production,” FFA Advisor Matt Elam told us. “He was the top in his area in the state. Also on that Friday night, he interviewed for State Star Farmer for this year, and he’ll find out the results at state convention in June.”

Elam said Shewe is the first Mulberry Grove student to interview for State Star Farmer in his seven years of teaching.

GHS ROBOTICS CLUB PLACES FIFTH IN BOTBALL TOURNAMENT

Greenville High School’s Robotics Club placed fifth out of 36 teams in the 7th Annual Botball Tournament hosted by SIUE Saturday. Club mentor Chris Ziemba told us how the robot-building tournament worked.

“They were given a list of challenges and a board set up in various pieces that they had to locate, they had to move, and each one was assigned a certain value of points," Ziemba told WGEL. "Each school was given a set of hardware, various pieces, both electronic and mechanical, that were used to build two robots to accomplish the set of challenges.

“They were supposed to do their own programming. They used a C-based programming language to write their own software so these robots were each autonomous -- they did their own thing.”

Ziemba said he was proud to see the club’s hard work pay off. He said events like the Botball tournament allow students to further their knowledge of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

SHIMKUS ON FARM BILL FEEDBACK

Congressman John Shimkus stopped by the WGEL studios Wednesday. We asked him about many topics, one of them being the feedback he’s received from farmers in his district about the recently-passed farm bill.

“They’re very happy," Shimkus told WGEL. "The people who might not be as pleased are some of our livestock people, because of the country of origin labeling issue. But the grain commodity folks want to know what the rules of the road are and they want to know what kind of insurance packages they have to help them in what we call the risk management. Last year we had a great year, two years ago we had a drought.

“You need to know the tools that are available before you go into the fields and they’re trying to get into the fields now. And having a plan, i.e. a farm bill, passed is very helpful to them.”

Shimkus was in Greenville Wednesday, hosting office hours to visit with constituents.

FORMER CARDINAL PITCHER TO BE KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT FCA BANQUET

Former St. Louis Cardinal Pitcher Andy Benes is the keynote speaker for the All-South Illinois Fellowship of Christian Athletes 2014 Home Team Banquet. Ish Smith, with the FCA, told us a little about Benes’ career.

“I got to know Andy first in 1988 when he was a member of the Olympic team over in Seoul, Korea that won the gold medal," Smith told WGEL.
"He pitched for us that year along with Jim Abbott. But Andy’s been a good friend since then and he’s very active in the St. Louis FCA.

“One of his claims to fame was he was the first pitcher to ever throw a pitch for the Diamondbacks. He was supposed to sign with the Cardinals. There was a questionable dateline that he didn’t get signed on time. So he got drafted by the start-up Diamondbacks, so that’s one of his several claims to fame.

“He has 2,000 strike-outs; that’s pretty good. But he’s just a great Christian athlete and a great guy.”

Smith said the banquet will be held Friday, May 9 at 6:30 p.m. in the Greenville College Armington Center. There is no charge to attend the banquet but there will be an opportunity to make a donation or pledge to the ongoing ministry of the All-South Illinois FCA. Reservations are required. To reserve your seat, call the FCA office at 664-1747.

RACES FOR THE ACES 5K RUN/WALK

The Mulberry Grove High School class of 2015 is hosting the “Races for the Aces” 5K run/walk on Saturday, April 26. Bobby Koontz, teacher and race coordinator, told us more about the event.

“The fundraiser is to raise money to send them on their senior trip," Koontz told WGEL. "It will take place on April 26 starting at 8:30 in the morning. It starts here at the high school. It’s professionally timed. We have a kid’s race starting at 9:30 -- a little fun-run.”

Fee to participate in the race is $25.

The 5K route proceeds east from the school, through downtown, and east of town to the halfway point, then back to the school. Registration the day of the race begins at 7:15 a.m. For more information, call 267-3913.

OBITUARIES

Donald L. Clingenpeel

Donald L. Clingenpeel, age 70 of Highland, passed away Wednesday, April 16 at his residence. There will be no services held. Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society. The Spengel-Boulanger Funeral Home in Highland is in charge of the arrangements.

He was born May 04, 1943, in Little Rock, AR, the son of Donald D. and Virginia Lee (nee Evans) Clingenpeel.

On April 20, 2006, he married Irma A. Gassier who survives .

He was a member of First Congregational Church. He was also a member of Highland Masonic Lodge #583 AF & AM.

Donald was born in Little Rock, AR. He moved to California for a time and settled in Lawrence, KS. He sold shoes and played in a band to fund his education at Southwestern College in Winfield, KS, then Kansas University, and served in the US Air Force. After serving, he lived and worked in Topeka, KS developing software for the State. Then worked at Lodge of Four Seasons at Lake of the Ozarks as Director of Information Technology. Following a stroke in 2001 he retired. He lived in Oklahoma, Bella Vista Arkansas, Monticello, Arkansas, and moved to Highland in 2009. Donald had a Green Thumb for gardening. He also always belonged to a church choir, where ever he lived, and volunteered at his church in Bella Vista and Monticello AR.

He was preceded in death by :
Father - Donald D. Clingenpeel
Mother - Virginia Lee Clingenpeel nee Evans

REALLY GOOD EASTER WEATHER OUTLOOK

National Weather Service Graphics

PUBLIC
AFFAIRS

Coming up this Sunday on WGEL’s Public Affairs program, we’ll talk with Anna Oestreich, Executive Director of the Bond County Senior Center. Anna will update us on the Center’s ongoing capital campaign and many of the services offered by the Center, including several new programs. Joselynn McKenna is your host this Sunday for Public Affairs. You can catch it right after the 12:05 local news on WGEL 101.7 FM.

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